2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport problems and recalls

61% of owner complaints on the 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport related to the Engine (43 of 70).

70
Complaints
1
Recalls
4
Crash reports
11
Fire reports
3
Injuries
98.2
Severity index

Severity index 98.2 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 98.2p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 16 of 142 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 89% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 43 complaints (61.4%)43 61%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 14 complaints (20.0%)14 20%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 7 complaints (10.0%)7 10%Service BrakesService Brakes: 6 complaints (8.6%)6 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 4 complaints (5.7%)4 6%Air BagsAir Bags: 4 complaints (5.7%)4 6%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 complaints (4.3%)3 4%Power TrainPower Train: 3 complaints (4.3%)3 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE4361.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1420.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM710.0%
SERVICE BRAKES68.6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM45.7%
AIR BAGS45.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING34.3%
POWER TRAIN34.3%

Complaints filed per year

012242017: 22018: 32019: 52020: 12021: 22022: 32023: 62024: 42025: 242026: 20 (partial year)1718192021222324252426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20172
20183
20195
20201
20212
20223
20236
20244
202524
2026 (year to date)20
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 5.7x those in 2020 to 2022 (34 against 6).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
17V35800005/06/2017LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCHHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch actuating cable may corrode and bind, causing the secondary hood latch to remain in the unlatched position when the hood is clo

Other Hyundai Santa Fe Sport model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 6 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-10-23. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.